Jerry, My 2 cents. Cockpit same length or longer than 17 (weight out of stern) Light boat (maybe H2O ballast augmented with similar keel/CB combo) vehicles are not likely to be getting bigger. Maybe - it is a wild one- cat ketch or another version of split rig -light spars (carbon, maybe multi-piece,boom less sails) Simple, and light, please look at a Catbird 16 - cmdboats.com, Herreshoff's 'Coquina', and Comm. Munroes 'Egret' ( I know it won't work at 55% but d*mn cool if it did!) , Or a 16-18' version with the qualities of 'Rozinante' -no small task! 1 more vote for wrinkle - boat. Are you thinking of a minimal cruiser or a mini- cruising boat? Please just make sure it does not look like Sean's camper - that sucker will NOT go to weather worth a _d@mn_ (mailto:d@mn) ! Wait , I got it! An International 110 canoe with a vertically retracting keel and a 'blister house' for a porta-potti cover,really LONG tiller extension for single handers. (LOL) halyard to spreaders for keel retractor,flattened bulb at tip of fin for keel, and one of them 16" tall "Do-It-All" lights at the masthead (okay - kiddin bout the light). Dead serious bout the other features. That there might haul the mail! And it has a flat floor for sleeping. Actually I think you already have a good idea spinning around 'in there' GO Shoot- I still need to repair my tiller - they really don't make good seats! In a message dated 5/13/2009 12:26:00 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, jerry@jerrymontgomery.org writes: Something more pleasant! I've been in a dialog with a builder to design a "Montgomery style" boat; probably 16', and I'd like to ask you for some opinions and comments. Lapstrake: How do you think the average buyer, looking for a boat in this size range, would look at a lapstrake hull as opposed to a smooth hull? You and I are probably prejudiced so we don't count. People can see that a lapstrake hull is dryer (but not much, really) and they can see that it's stiffer- again, not much. A lapstrake hull is a bit heavier but weight in a hull doesn't really slow the boat down enough to matter even to me. There is a cost factor, partly because of taking longer to lay up, a little more material, and because it takes a bit better molder, but not much, and really, the deck has more man hours in it than a hull so cost is a small factor. I don;'t believe there is a performance factor of any import. Maybe I'm saying too much; and the simple question is: which would sell best to the average buyer? I'm thinking the interior would be a roomier version of the 15, with a little more storage, and more comfortable sitting headroom. Also, the 15 cockpit is about 5.5' long, and when i'd take a 15 cruising I'd cleat the drop hatches to bridge the cockpit benches and sleep at a diagonal. This worked fine for me but would not work for most couples, especially if they fight a lot. The 17 cockpit, being over 6', was much better for sleeping in the cockpit. Here's the question : where would you like to see the extra foot of length- in the cockpit or the interior, or what combination of both? Any other comments would be welcome. My ex-wife used to call me a know-it-all but we all know I'm not! I think these subjects would be good for the list, but if you don't like speaking to a crowd feel free to email me directly at jerry@jerrymontgomery.org. jerry _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats Remember, there is no privacy on the Internet! **************Dell Mini Netbooks: Great deals starting at $299 after instant savings! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222627952x1201458914/aol?redir=http...)